The Admissions Process

To apply to the Masters of Arts in Economics, students need to take the following steps:

Apply On-Line

Students need to complete and file an on-line application through www.csumentor.edu. Students should include their personal statement within the application, and we ask students to include the reasons they are looking to pursue an MA in Economics and their reason for selecting Cal State East Bay. Be sure to pay your application fee to avoid delay.

Send-In Documents

All applications, transcripts, and test scores should be sent directly to the admissions office:

Résumés and letters of recommendation are not required as part of the initial application process.

Admissions Requirements

To be considered for admission, students must hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university and have a GPA of 2.75 or better in all upper division course work. Students who do not meet the grade point requirement may be admitted at the discretion of the department pending receipt of other evidence indicating academic achievement. The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is not required; however, a strong GRE can improve the admission chances of a student with a relatively low grade point average. Students are expected to have a C or better in one course in each of the following: calculus, a calculus II or mathematical economics, statistics, intermediate microeconomics, and intermediate macroeconomics. Although it is not necessary to have completed these courses before applying to the M.A. program, everything else constant, applicants who completed these courses with grades 3.0 or above will be given priority in the admission process.

International Students

For admission to California State University, East Bay as an international student, you are required to meet the following conditions:

1. Meet the above admission requirements

2. Demonstrate proof of English proficiency in one of the following ways:

An official transcript showing graduation with a bachelor's degree from a U.S. college or university, or an international college or university where English is the principal language of instruction, or an official letter from the college or university certifying that English was the language of instruction.

A TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score of 550 (213 computer-based or 79 Internet-based; 92 for MA Economics) or above.

An overall test score from IELTS (International English Language Testing System) exam of 6.5 or above for graduate students. A score of 7 or above is required for international students seeking a Masters of Arts degree in Economics.

Students with academic three-year degrees from accredited institutions and grade point averages of 2.75 or above can be admitted in unclassified baccalaureate status to the Fourth Year Bridge Program. (Students with academic three-year degrees from accredited institutions who have previously completed A-level and O-level exams are considered to have equivalency and are not subject to this policy. Students with three-year degrees who have later completed an accredited master’s degree are also not subject to this policy.) Students needing visas are NOT eligible for this program. Completion of this Bridge Program will result in the granting of Equivalent Academic Preparation for future admission to the M.A. in Economics graduate program at California State University, East Bay.